Typographical distributing mechanism



Oct. 5 1926. v 1,602,268 I D. s. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 8. 1923 L um" l VENTOR characters thereon, and the matrices there Patented Got. 5, i926.

DAVID S. KENNEDY, 01F BROOKLYI T, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINC- TYPE COMPANY,'A CORPORATION OF NEW .YORK.,

rrroenarrricar. DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM;

Application filed November This invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the metal to form a slug 3 or linotype against the matrices which produce the type after returned through a distributing mecha started. In some machines, such as the commercial Model 9, where matrices may be drawn from several magazines and mixed together in the same line, the distributing mechanism includes a primary distributor which first sorts the matrices according to font, ,and'a plurality of main distributors fonts according to character and restore them to their proper channels lnthe' maga zines.

.distributor box equipped with a reciprocating lifting finger which detaches'the matrices one at a time from the line and delivers them into engagement with the distributor screws. Ordinarily, the lifting finger is recessed at its upper end to provide a ver" tical lip or shoulder for engaging the'front face ofa leading matrix and a horizontal ledge for engaging the bottom edge of said" matrix. In order top'revent the detachment of more than one matrix at a time, the horizontal ledge portion of the lifting fingeris' limited in width to a very small fraction of an inch, or something less than the thickcooperate with matrices of all sizes and de-.

its spirit. which sort the matrices of the individual a, 1923. SerialjNo. 673,421.

liver them to the distributor. in the required manner. Accordingly, the lifting finger is so constructed and operated thatit will engage the bottom of a leading matrix within the required limitations but, in rismg, will gradually increase the extent of such engagement until it reaches the limit of its upward'stroke and then continues to support the matrix untilthe latter is advanced the proper distance by the distributor screws.

The exact construction and mode'of opera P tion of the parts will bestbe understood from the detailed description to follow. nism to the magazine from which they.

be made therein and in its mode of applica j tion, which will. still be comprised within It is to be understood,therefore, that the 'inventionis not limited to any specific form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified" in the claims. p

Referring to the drawings :v v

Fig. 1 is an elevationof a primary dis-' tributor, partly broken away, and showing the present; improvements applied thereto;

-Fig. 2 isa transverse sectiontake'n on the line 22 ofFig. .1; p

Fig. 3 is adeta'il, the parts'when' a the screws;

Fig. 4 is adetail of the improved lifting finger; and

Fig; ,5 is a detail of the operating camand roller. i

As'shown in 1, the primary distrib utor comprises .a longitudinally ribbed bar A, formed at intervals with blank spaces A,

howing therelation of matrix is being liftedinto a set of matrix conveying screw's'B, and a plurality offont selecting bridges C under; lylng the blank spaces A and acting to direct the matrices X into one oranother of the tubes D leading to the main distributors 3 -(not shown). .The matrices are delivered one at a time to the primary distributor from a distributor box E into which theyare pushed from a second elevator Ffby a transfer device G. The distributor box is provided with upper and lower rails .E"

which sustain the'matrices their projecting ears X and which are formed at the de-. livery end of the :box with arresting shoul= tween the lifting finger and the successive.

dcrs or abutments E against which the matrices are normally pressed'by the transfer device. is also equipped witli'- a vertically movable finger H which acts to. lift thematrices one;

at a time into engagement with the distributor screws B. As each matrixisth-usli-fted,- its projecting ears X slide along upwardly inclined portions 6 of the abutments E and thence along horizontallyextending portions 6 thereofonto-thedistributor barA'. The

matrix liftingniiger .l-lfis pivotally mounted upon a r'ockinglever J moved in one direction by a spring K a-nd in the opposite directionby a cam L on .oneofthe distributor screws. The foregoing parts and their mode of operation, except as hereinafterpointed tamingra-ils arranged'within said box and out, are or, may be ofany approved constru0- tion .ortas embodied in the commercial'lino type machine; a

In carryingoutthe present invention, the matrix lifting finger If, instead of being recessed at its. upper end as heretofore, is provided with a broad, fiat, shelfdike topmI-I for engagement with the bottom edges only of'the'. matricesX. A sprin g M, connected,

at one end to'th'e linger H and at its opposite end tothe distributor box E,xserves to hold the fingerin constant engagement with thefiattened c and finished face of: a stationary transversebloclrN carried by the, distributor bex.

engaging relation to the successive matrices passing through the: distributor box, that is to ,say, 1n such position that it cannot engage more-than one matrix at altiine,and also to guide the lifting finger inasubstantially ver tical Pia/I181 during its upward movement.

It willnow be evident that, as'each matrix:

is lifted by the finger H, a. relative movement ment, afdetached matrix istpermittedto move forwardly in a hor zontal direction without a displacement of the lifting finger, the matrix sliding across the'shelf-like top I-Il of the lifting finger H as it ascends-the inclined portions 6 of the rail abutments E In this way, the lifting finger, is enabled to cooperate with matrices of all sizeswithout danger of being disengaged therefrom.- As a mat-,, ter of fact, the extent of. engagement be,

matrices is actually increased during, the,

lifting stroke, so that the action: of theparts:

is materially improvedQin all respects.

The width of the shelf-like top H, issomes whatgreater than the horizontalspaceocs until its projecting ears X pass onto the abutments. At this point, the CllSlJIllOLltOT'l'JOX The purpose ,of this stationary block N is tov locate. the lifting finger in properv horizontally extending portions 0 of the rail To give effect to this phase of he invention, the cam L is formed with a Concentric portion L which will allowithe lifting finger to pause in its raised position for the necessary period. As a result,the danger o-fm-atriceslagging behind or falling back into the distributor box is minimized, if not entirely obviated.

Having thus described my invention, its construction; and mode of-operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent offthe UnitedfStates', is as follows l; In a typographical distributing mecha nism, the combination of-adistributor box throughwhich matrices are advanced for distribution, upper and-lower matrix susprovided with matrix arresting abutments hav1n u wardl inclined andh'orizontall b P y,

extending portions to guide the matrices by er than the lioriz'ontalspace occupied by" said upwardly inclined portions, and stationaryilooatin'g and guiding means cooperating, with said lifting member, 7

2. In a typographical distributing mechanism', the combination with aprimary dis: t-ributor comprising a distrib'utorbar, a; set

of matrix; conveying; screws, and selecting I bridges for separatingthe matrices accordv v i v ,1 '1 ing to font, of a distributor box througn which matrices are advanced for delivery to the screws,- a' flat topped matrix-lifting memb'er mounted to reciprocate in said'box, and stationary locating and guiding means 00- operating with said lifting member.

3; In a typographical distributing mechanism, the combinationrof a distributor box throu h =Which matrices are advanced for distribution, upper and lower matrix sustaining rails arranged ,Wltlllll said box and provided rwith matrix arresting abutments having upwardly inclined and horizontally extendingportions to guidethe matrices by their projecting ears, a matrix lifting mem ber mounted to reciprocate in said box and having a flat shelf-like top of a width greater; than the horizontal space occupied by said upwardly inclined portions, and means for actuating the lifting member, said means acting tomaintain' the lifting member mo-v mentarily. at rest in, its raised position to support the matrices untilthey have passed ltil) onto the horizontally extending portions of i the rail abutments.-

4. In antypo'graphicalr distributing mechanism, thecombination of a distributor box through which matrices are advanced for distribution, upper and lower matrix sustaininggrails arranged within said box and extending portions to guide the matrices by their projecting ears, amatrix lifting member mounted to reciprocate in said box and having a flat shelf-like top ofa Width greater than the horizontal space occupied by said upwardly inclined portions, stationary locating and guiding means cooperating With said lifting member, and means for actuating the lifting member, said means acting to maintain the lifting member mo- 1 mentarily at rest in its raised position to support the matrices until' they have passed I In testimony whereof, I have aifixed my 15 signature hereto.

, DAVID s. KENNEDY. 

